Post Office Community Meeting

More than 200 people turned out for a community meeting about the possible closure of the Abilene Customer Service Mail Processing Center. Moving the mail sorting operations could result in 119 jobs lost in Abilene.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Chester Lynd, who said he is not a USPS employee, sports a shirt in support of the postal service at a community meeting Tuesday night at the Abilene Civic Center.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Ron Eudy, local president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, speaks to USPS Fort Worth District Manager Pat Williams during a community meeting at the Abilene Civic Center on Tuesday. The USPS is considering closing the Abilene Customer Service Mail Processing Center and moving the operations to Midland and other cities.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald speaks in support of keeping the Abilene Customer Service Mail Processing Center open during a community meeting at the Abilene Civic Center Tuesday night.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Richard Burdine, CEO of the Development Corporation of Abilene, receives a standing ovation after announcing the DCOA would offer to pay the lease on the Abilene Customer Service Mail Processing Center for 10 years if the USPS kept the center open at the community meeting Tuesday night.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Pat Williams, Fort Worth District Manager for the US Postal Service, speaks to a crowd of more than 200 concerned postal employees, business and civic leaders and Abilene residents during a community meeting Tuesday night about the possible closing of the Abilene Customer Service Mail Processing Center.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Taylor County Judge Downing Bolls speaks during a community meeting Tuesday night at the Abilene Civic Center about the possible closure of the Abilene Customer Service Mail Processing Center.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News People wearing T-shirts in support of the US Postal Service listen as Pat Williams, USPS Fort Worth district manager, speaks during a community meeting Tuesday night.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Judy Glossup, president of the local American Postal Workers Union, speaks during a community meeting Tuesday night about the possible closure of the Abilene Customer Service Mail Processing Center.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Audience members applaud as Mike McMahan, president of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, speaks in support of the Abilene Customer Service Mail Processing Center during a community meeting Tuesday night at the Abilene Civic Center.